New Ulm weekly review., 1887-12-21
written for the Review Il.
Effects of StimuIants and Narcotics
on the Human System.

Effects of StimuIants and Narcotics
on the Human System.
If, [.
An act approved March l, 1887,
makes it s.the duty Of all teachers IN the
public schools Of the state to give sys.
tematic and regular instruction in phys.
iolosey1y and hygiene, including special
reference to the effect OF stimulants
and narcotics upon the human system;
and any neglect or refusal on the part
OF such teachers to provide instruction
as aforesaid shall be deemed sufficient
! cause for annulling his or her certif-
cate by the county superintendent or
other competent officer. Other sec
i tions of the same act make it the duty
of boards Of education and trustees to
provide for such instruction, under the
penalty Of forfeiting from one-fourth to
one-half of the state pportionment;
and provision is also made that no
teacher S certificate shall be granted
after January l, 1888, TO any, person
who has not passed a satisfactory ex-
animation in physiology and hygiene
with special reference to the effects of
stimulants and narcotics.
| Whatever may have been the opin-
ions and purposes Of those who intro
duced the original bill, it cannot be
! denied that the form in which it became
part Of our statutes renders it q good
law if honestly interpreted. In the
first place, it makes compulsory the in
struction in a branch of knowledge
which is Of far greater Importance
than nine.tenths of what is popularity
called geography. Trustees can no
longer object to the teaching of physi-
ology and hygiene on the ground that
the school law does not provide for
such instruction. That part Of the law
which requires that, in teaching this
branch, special reference is to be made
to the effects Of stimulants and narcot-
les, simn!yy relieves the teacher et the
trouble Of inquiring Of the community
| in which he or she teaches, whether
that subject shall be included in the in
struction or omitted.
| But the law does not empower the
4 teacher to educate the pupils under his
or her charge with a view to making
them converts tc any particular party
or creed, political or otherwise. The
law which by implication prescribes
that the history Of the United States
shall be taught in our schools. cannot
be construed as authorizing the teacher
to wave the bloody shirt in the
school room or to teach history with q
view to swelling the ranks Of the repub-
lican or democratic party in the cleo
tion Of 1892 or 1896. Neither does the
fact that the districtis overwhelmingly
republican or democratic have any
bearing upon the manner Of presenting
historical facts.
Let us suppose that the national exec
1 utive committee of the political party
out Of power should decide that the
youth of this country must !. be SO edu-
Gated as to insure republican victo-
ries whenever they have reached the
age at which they are permitted to
vote. The first step the committee
takes is to secure the passage Of state
| laws which provide that the history Of
4 the United States shall be taught with
/ special reference to the history and
/! principles of republican government.
! II these laws are honestly interpreted,
| they can evidently be made the means
OF accomplishing mucn a gooa: put y y
must l1'l pc remembered tnat t1ose VINO p
secured the passage OF tnese laws dld
not intend to have them honestly IN IN.
i terpreted. lhe commlttee next exam an,
ines a. a NUMBER OF WORKS WORKS. on pollelcal s
economy. AL Writer'S V1S s VINO are adVo- V,
Gates OF Tree trade . are prescribed at the tn
outset because the republican party
faYors q protective darlff. lhose o Whe
advocate q low tariff are next aes ye dlscardeo 1
! because the salvation :. OF 1he country
depends on q; a nigh 1'I. tarlH Inc authors